English Essay (Article) If I were a Minister of Education

BACKGROUND

Education in Indonesia is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In Indonesia, all citizens must undertake nine years of compulsory education which consists of six years at elementary level and three in secondary level. Islamic schools are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Education is defined as a planned effort to establish a study environment and education process so that the student may actively develop his/her own potential to gain the religious and spiritual level, consciousness, personality, intelligence, behavior and creativity to him/herself, other citizens and for the nation. The Constitution also notes that education in Indonesia is divided into two major parts, formal and non-formal. Formal education is further divided into three levels, primary, secondary and tertiary education.

Children aged 6–11 attend primary school, called Sekolah Dasar (SD). Most elementary schools are government-operated public schools, accounting for nearly 93% of all elementary schools in Indonesia. Students spend six years in primary school, though some schools offer an accelerated learning program in which students who perform well can complete the level in five years.

After completion of the six-year primary-school program, three years of junior secondary school (JHS) may be followed by three years of senior secondary school (SHS), or students can choose among a variety of vocational and pre-professional junior and senior secondary schools, each level of which requires three years of study.

            PROBLEM

Indonesia has made little or no progress in field of education. Indonesia is more or less still far away from its avowed goal of education for all the inhabitants of this vast country. The standard of education is going down day by day. It makes development in our country has a little progress.

Besides that, In Indonesia there is a lot of dishonesty by naughty government. They are smart and rich. But they don’t have a nice moral. They do corruption, bribery, money laundering, etc. It makes tort of Indonesian.

In Indonesia, there are strikes and acts of violence everywhere. The whole structure of education seems to be on the breaking point. Ours is a democratic form of government. So, everyone high and low person should gave chance to aspire for the highest place in the government.

SOLUTION

If I were a Minister of Education, I would bring about many changes in the education pattern of Indonesia.

The important things to make fun what you did is if you really understand that you want it. You know that you need it, but it isn't enough. So you should really want it. Learning is a important thing for improve our skill and knowledge. But, most of students feel so bored and it makes they lazy for went to school. So, of course when they went school, not willingly it just like a torture. And when they get torture, everything will be nothing. I mean, they will not care with the lessons. Yes, they are over there, but their feeling, and their mind aren't over there.  As we know, it will not improve anything of the students.

So, if i am the minister of education i will make students went to school because they want it willingly. And how it could? (www.arliasworld.blogspot.com)

First, The allocation hours of art, religion, history, literature, etc doesn’t like the step-lesson. Because it do not fair, students not only need to improve their exact lesson but it should be balance. They will learn about fun music and drawing. Because, art does not only help to develop the right side of the brain, but it also cultivates important skills that benefit a students development. Participating in art activities helps students to gain the tools necessary for understanding human experience, adapting and respecting others ways of working and thinking, developing creative problem-solving skills, and communicating thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways.

Students also need study more about history to learn how they got to where they are now, to learn what worked for people in the past, to learn not to make mistakes made in the past. Besides that students also will recognize a national heroes, respect their struggle, and students will love the independence of Indonesia. They will have the patriotism soul.

Students also need to reading and writing a stories. Reading and writing, in general, are undoubtedly some of the most valuable skills one can have obviously, having these skills makes is much easier for people to communicate and to participate in society. The written word can be used to enlighten, to persuade, to express emotion, or simply for enjoyment. With literature subject, students will improve their writing skill, and they need to love reading.

Religion subject also need to be fairness. Short hours lesson than exact subject will make unbalance between brain and soul. Knowledge of religion includes morals and manners should be taught more to students. Moreover, civil and physical education also needed by students which have many useful reasons.

Second changes in the education pattern of Indonesia which I will change is the Evaluation system in Indonesia. So, Evaluation system will free from the multiple-choice models. So, students are given the freedom to compose an answer. The knowledge of students are expanded in writing the answer.  Because, many students are very scared or maybe just lazy, then buy the National Exam question ilegally. Students are required to meet the minimum passing grade, not all students are able prioritize honesty. Multiple choice questions make it easier for naughty students to cheat.

Because of its value-oriented, consequently patterns of learning - teaching in the classroom. the students focus on how students could pass the National Exam. As a result, the students are learning in school is a skill to answer questions quickly and accurately. And being pursued by the teachers, principals, and the Minister of Education is the increase in graduation statistics. Not oriented in the spirit of true learning (learning-oriented) which should be the foundation of every person who ever taste of formal education.

Third, for graduation, the National Examination is replaced by the final form of social or scientific projects. So, students will realize that the real success is not not priority about numbers. However, starting from the diligence and hard work, not from a trick of answering multiple choice questions deftly.

Because, how the poor Indonesia students. The increasing people who go to school now. The news of the brawl between students, and students demonstrations also increased. Why? Because, In the school there is not enough space to training a polite communication through the discussion of exchange opinions between students. For several years students crammed a question that they will never encounter in real life. students are not equipped with critical thinking because they are not accustomed to writing. From the daily tests until the National Exam multiple-choice does not encourage them to love their library (to stimulate reading). So, it does not forming a creative mindset and open-minded to solving the problem of students.

And the last, i want to return back the essence of the teaching profession as an educator, not just teachers who only prepares students to pass the exam. Education in this country not just be a site for transfer knowledge to copied the teacher. But, students must be able to transform science education. So, the final purpose of education is to create a generation which able to answer the challenges of the world.

CONCLUSION

So if I were a minister of education, with the changes in the education pattern of Indonesia. I will improve the quality of education in Indonesia with my real steps. I hope I can create Indonesian successful generation and they can have the  Pancasila moral life. Then Indonesia will be full of intelligent and truthful people. Indonesia will free of corruption and violence. It will makes development in our country has a nice progress.

Sumber: Karangan Lia Ayu Kusumaningrum + Referensi dari berbagai sumber